Genesis 15

1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.

After these things the LORD’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

2 And Abram said, O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Dammesek Eliezer?

Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”

3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”

4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Behold, the LORD’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”

5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to tell them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

The LORD brought him outside, and said, “Look now towards the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”

6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.

7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

He said to Abram, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

8 And he said, O Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

He said, “Lord GOD, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

10 And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other: but the birds divided he not.

He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds.

11 And the birds of prey came down upon the carcases, and Abram drove them away.

The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.

13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.

14 and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;

15 But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.

16 And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.

In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”

17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.

It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

18 In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:

19 the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite,

the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,

20 and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,

the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

21 and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.

the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”